Discovering Local Legacy: A Visit to the Oswego Heritage House

You might drive past it without knowing the stories inside — but step through the doors of the Oswego Heritage House, and you’ll find a world of Lake Oswego history waiting to be discovered. During our visit, we caught up with Executive Director, Kathryn Sinor, to learn how this quiet museum is preserving powerful local stories — from pioneer days to personal letters and art that speaks across generations.

Here's the audio from our interview

A Place Where History Lives

Originally built in the 1920s as a real estate office, the Oswego Heritage House later served as a private residence before becoming the museum it is today. While the building itself carries a fascinating past, it’s what’s inside that truly brings Lake Oswego’s story to life.

Kathryn's enthusiasm is contagious. Having worked in museums for years, she describes this collection as “one of the most fantastic” she’s encountered — not because of grandeur, but because of intimacy. Letters, diaries, photographs, and personal artifacts connect visitors to the real people who shaped the town's transformation from a hopeful industrial hub to a thriving residential lakefront community.

The Pittsburgh of the West?

Many locals may not know that Lake Oswego was once pitched as the “Pittsburgh of the West.” The town’s early economy revolved around iron production, led by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. When the iron industry collapsed in the 1890s, the area pivoted toward real estate and recreation — turning the lake into a summertime destination complete with cabanas, boat rentals, and ice cream stands. Today’s neighborhoods owe their beginnings to that pivotal shift.

Personal Stories with Powerful Echoes

One of Kathryn's favorite artifacts is a collection of over 300 vintage letters discovered in a local attic. Written between 1919 and 1921 to a man named Charles Benjamin Hill, these letters came from seven different women — each offering a rare glimpse into post-WWI life from the perspective of working women across Oregon. From cooks in logging camps to ghost town schoolteachers, these voices paint a vivid portrait of life, love, and opinion in a rapidly changing world.

“It’s a powerful reminder,” Kathryn says, “that local history connects us to national events — through real people and real moments.”

Busting a Local Myth

One common misconception Kathryn often hears? That Lake Oswego is man-made. Not true. While the lake has been heavily altered, it predates modern development and once served as an important meeting and hunting ground for Native American bands. The lake’s deep-rooted history is just one of the many layers uncovered at the museum.

Plan Your Visit

The Oswego Heritage House regularly rotates exhibits every 6–8 months and offers thousands of digitized photographs and historical records online at oswegoheritage.org. Whether you're a lifelong resident or just passing through, this museum invites you to connect with Lake Oswego’s past in deeply personal ways.

Local Tip: Don’t miss the historic iron furnace at George Rogers Park — one of the last of its kind on the West Coast and a tangible link to the town’s industrial roots.

Follow the Oswego Heritage Council on social media @OswegoHeritage and stop by during open hours to see what’s new — because history here is always unfolding.

🗺️ Location: Oswego Heritage House, Lake Oswego, OR
📅 Check their website for hours and exhibit info
📸 Stay tuned to Spotlight Around Town for more local gems

The Oswego Heritage House is a charming 1920s-era structure that blends classic architecture with deep local roots. Once a bustling real estate office during Lake Oswego’s early development boom, it later became a private residence before its transformation into today’s community museum. With its bright white facade, stately columns, and peaceful tree-lined setting, the building itself is a living piece of the town’s evolving story — a welcoming doorway into the rich heritage of the region.

Through the Eyes of One Artist

Part of “The Story Begins” Vietnamese Heritage Exhibit at Oswego Heritage House

This immersive corner of the gallery recreates the personal studio environment of artist Lê Quang Vinh, offering a rare, intimate look into his creative process. Centered around a projection of his workspace and paintings in progress, the exhibit invites visitors to experience history, memory, and identity through Vinh’s unique visual lens.

Now on Exhibit: The Story Begins
April through August 2025, features the artwork and perspective of a Vietnamese immigrant artist reflecting on the life-changing journey from his homeland to America. Through intimate visuals and personal storytelling, the exhibit captures the emotional complexity of displacement, resilience, and hope during the months following the Vietnam War.

Lê Quang Vinh (1948–2014) was a Vietnamese-born painter whose poignant works capture the emotional journey of exile, memory, and cultural identity. Born in Huế, Vietnam, he studied painting at the University of Huế before emigrating to Oregon in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.

Văn Hóa Ba Miền (Culture of Three Regions) Year: 1996 Medium: Oil on canvas. 

This vivid and intricately detailed oil painting represents the three major cultural regions of Vietnam — North, Central, and South — woven together in a single unified visual tapestry. Each section of the painting incorporates traditional patterns, architectural motifs, and cultural symbols unique to its respective region.